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Knopf, New York, 1971, Stated First Edition, SIGNED by Charles Mingus to the dedication page. It is entirely fitting that the great bassist and composer signed to the dedication page where he thanks his editor, Nel King, and publisher, Regina Ryan, for their work in bringing the book to fruition. King in particular had spent months winnowing a massive and chaotic manuscript of more than 850 pages down to nearly half its length, all while dealing with the fiery, and suspicious author's demands. The manuscript had a tangled history; King claimed that Mingus had written it all in a great burst of energy over a six month period during 1963 (Mingus sometimes claimed he had been working on it for twenty years); this manuscript had then been accepted for publication by McGraw Hill in August 1962; a contract which the publisher, apparently uncomfortable with the candid and often profane text, canceled in 1964. Apart from a brief excerpt published in the journal, Changes, edited by Sue Mingus, the manuscript remained in limbo until 1969 when at Ryan's urging, Mingus submitted it to Knopf, where it was finally approved by Knopf's editor-in-chief Robert Gottleib, with a substantial advance against royalties of $25,000. Initial hardcover sales were disappointing, but in the ensuing forty years, this extraordinary book has sold steadily in paperback editions. Quarter bound in silver gilt over black cloth, spine ends lightly pushed and rubbed, pages slightly toned, previous owner signature to top right of second blank, else about near fine, clean and unmarked. The dust jacket is unclipped, hint of edge wear to spine ends, tiny crease to bottom front panel at the flap hinge, else, near fine. The signature is fine in black ink without loss, skipping or fading. One of the most compelling of all jazz memoirs, which belongs in the same class as Art Pepper's 'Straight Life', and Hampton Hawes' 'Raise Up Off Me'. The book is accompanied by a signed letter of provenance from the original owner, with our signed L.O.A. and an additional COA from noted music authenticator, Roger Epperson. Charles Mingus signatures are uncommon in any form and exceedingly scarce, signed to his memoir. J2313
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